Signs, signs, not everywhere signs

DANETTE GOULET

There has been a decided lack of campaign signs this year as compared

to the last election -- much to my delight.

By this time, every street corner is usually pasted with the

bright, vile placards telling passersby how to vote.

I’m not sure why I am so offended by campaign signs.

Perhaps it is because they are a plea for the ignorant vote.

Or maybe it’s because they are visual pollution in an already

polluted world.

It could be because remnants remain long after the election.

They remind me of the signs put up by sixth-graders running for

class president. (Although those signs don’t offend me.)

At any rate, their absence makes me even more eager to vote come

Nov. 2. And in a field of 16 candidates vying for three seats -- with

only one incumbent -- it is a race that will require voters to do

their homework.

As for the signs that have popped up, I have been pleased to see

many of them are recycled. Keith Bohr and Steve Ray are using the

same signs they posted in 2002. Somehow that makes seeing them less

offensive to me. Norm Westwell has hand-painted his signs this year,

after his sidewalk chalk messages to voters kept getting washed away

in 2002. Though his luck seems dismal yet again as he has reported

many signs stolen this year. Good news Norm: you still have plenty

out there.

Joey Racano also has hand-painted signs, which look similar to

Westwell’s. Just one question -- is he using child labor to paint

those? Racano might want to invest in a stencil as Westwell appears

to have.

For what I wish were the majority of us, who do not vote by signs

and name recognition, there will be at least one candidate forum

coming up on Oct. 14. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the

American Assn. of University Women, the debate will be from 7 to 9

p.m. in the City Council Chamber, 2000 Main St. and will be broadcast

live on channel 3.

While one debate is in no way enough -- especially for 16

candidates -- it is a far better way to pick a leader than by

signage. Hopefully, the coverage allotted to each candidate, sans the

one who refused to be interviewed, will also aid voters.

I also encourage residents to ask questions if they come a

knockin’.

* DANETTE GOULET is the city editor. She can be reached at (714)

965-7170 or by e-mail at danette.goulet@latimes.com.